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Aquafornia
Water news you need to know

A collection of top water news from around California and the West compiled each weekday. Send any comments or article submissions to Foundation News & Publications Director Vik Jolly

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Aquafornia news Spectrum News 1 (Los Angeles)

In Focus SoCal: Delta Conveyance Project; mobile home insurance

On this week’s “In Focus SoCal,” Spectrum News’ Renee Eng … also sits down with Assemblymember Lori Wilson to discuss the Delta Conveyance Project, which was not included in the final state budget. Wilson, along with other Delta lawmakers, opposed the project that would create a massive underground tunnel to reroute a big chunk of the state’s water supply. … Wilson offered alternative solutions that the Delta Caucus would consider, strengthening the state water system without impact on the Delta.

Aquafornia news Berkeley Lab News Center

News release: New membrane technology could expand access to water for agricultural and industrial use

… A new technology equips membranes used in the reverse-osmosis desalination process with electrical conductivity, improving their ability to separate salts and other contaminants from hard-to-treat waters. Active Membranes, a California-based company, licensed the technology originating from UC Riverside and UCLA to advance its development and bring it to market. Their team received funding for this work from the National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI), a public-private partnership led by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). NAWI focuses on advancing technologies that enable the use of unconventional water sources in real-world settings. In addition to federal support, NAWI is backed by several California water agencies, reflecting strong regional interest in securing reliable water supplies. According to NAWI Executive Director Peter Fiske, the new active membrane can effectively treat wastewater that is brought to the surface during oil and gas extraction. 

Other water reclamation and reuse news:

Aquafornia news SJV Water

Monday Top of the Scroll: Kaweah is second San Joaquin Valley groundwater basin to escape state enforcement

The Kaweah subbasin is the second San Joaquin Valley region to successfully escape state intervention, managers learned today.  In a phone call with state Water Resources Control Board staff, managers of Kaweah’s three groundwater sustainability agencies got the news that their efforts to rewrite their groundwater management plans were good enough for staff to recommend that they return to Department of Water Resources oversight. … The Chowchilla subbasin successfully made the u-turn from state enforcement back to oversight in early June. Fukuda said Kaweah will follow much the same path as Chowchilla. The Water Board will consider the staff recommendation for Kaweah at a meeting in the fall, when it can pass a resolution formally sending Kaweah back to DWR. Returning to DWR oversight guarantees landowners freedom from additional fees under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which mandates that overdraft stop and aquifers reach balance by 2040. 

Other groundwater regulation news:

Aquafornia news KTNV (Las Vegas, Nev.)

Lake Mead drops 2 more feet this month as drought spreads

Lake Mead has dropped about 2 feet since the beginning of June as drought conditions continue to worsen across Nevada. On the first of the month, the elevation was 1,057 ft and as of June 29, it’s now at 1,055.13 ft. Currently, the elevation higher than it’s record-breaking low year in 2022. However, the reservoir is sitting lower than where it was in 2020, 2021, 2023, and 2024. The reservoir is currently at 31% capacity, while Lake Powell sits at 32% capacity, according to the latest teacup diagrams from Bureau of Reclamation (BOR). The current unregulated inflow of water from the Colorado River to Lake Powell is estimated to be 45% of average through July, according to the latest 24-month Most Probable Study for the Upper and Lower Colorado Basin Regions from BOR.

Other water supply news around the West:

Aquafornia news The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, Calif.)

Promise and peril envelope California’s next big dam removal in Lake and Mendocino counties

… To many of its visitors, and the several hundred people who live along its 31-mile shoreline deep within the sprawling Mendocino National Forest, Lake Pillsbury is the region’s heartbeat. But Scott Dam, at the foot of Lake Pillsbury, and another, smaller dam on the river 12 miles downstream, have also become a headache for Pacific Gas & Electric Co., which owns both dams. And that’s creating a controversy that’s drawn interest from everyone from those who live on Lake Pillsbury, to North Bay communities whose water supplies are linked to both dams, to federal agencies now under control of President Donald Trump. … PG&E is on track to decommission those dams, and under a historic agreement reached earlier this year, both are being slated to be torn down in what would be the nation’s next big dam removal project, freeing up the headwaters of California’s third longest river to help revive its troubled salmon and steelhead trout runs.

Other dam removal and restoration news:

Aquafornia news The Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.)

In Silicon Valley’s backyard, Pescadero struggles with unclean water, rising rates

When it rains in Pescadero, Irma Rodriguez gets to work — lining up containers on her patio to catch as much water as she can. … The small rural town has one public water system, and it serves less than half of the population. Now, San Mateo County is preparing to raise rates for that system — potentially tripling costs — deepening concerns among residents already struggling to get by and not addressing those who have no clean running water at all. … Of the seven public water systems within 2 miles of Pescadero assessed by the California State Water Resources Control Board in 2024, six were either failing or at risk of failing. Only one — County Service Area No. 11, or CSA-11 — was deemed to have “no risk.” The “no risk” rating doesn’t reflect how many people in the area actually get their water from creeks or private wells that may never be tested, leaving their water safety uncertain.

Other water pollution news:

Aquafornia news Courthouse News Service

Feds must decide on protections for Chinook salmon

In a move environmentalists are hailing as an important victory for Chinook salmon conservation, the federal government has agreed to decide this year whether the fish warrants federal protections. By Nov. 3, the National Marine Fisheries Service must decide whether so-called Oregon Coast and Southern Oregon and Northern California Coastal varieties of Chinook salmon warrant protections under the Endangered Species Act. By Jan. 2 of next year, feds must do the same for Washington Coast spring-run Chinook salmon, according to a settlement agreement from Thursday. The Center for Biological Diversity — joined by the Native Fish Society, Umpqua Watersheds, and Pacific Rivers — in February sued the service and two top officials after the service failed to issue 12-month findings on the groups’ petitions to list the fish. 

Other salmon news:

Aquafornia news Arizona Republic (Phoenix)

Officials destroy breeding ground for invasive fish in Colorado River

An invasion of smallmouth bass from the Great Lakes region is spreading to new areas of the Colorado River in Arizona. The bass have already thwarted efforts to save threatened native fish in the upper river basin, and wildlife officials are fighting to keep the same from happening below Lake Powell, even if it requires cranes, excavators and maybe one day, a giant metal curtain. Federal officials say they took a major step in fighting the bass invasion below the Glen Canyon Dam in June. The National Park Service and Bureau of Reclamation have cleared out a warm backwater in the river where bass and other invasive species used to spawn, eliminating a critical resource for the predatory fish that could wipe out one of the last holdouts for some of the Colorado River’s threatened and endangered fish. Every bass that spawned in the slough became a threat to native fish, experts say. Smallmouth bass eat native fish eggs and young. 

Other invasive species news:

Aquafornia news UC Agriculture and Natural Resources

Report: Water productivity of winter cereal crops in the San Joaquin Valley

Over 500,000 acres of farmland in California are expected to come out of production by 2040 because of water limitations from drought and state regulations. While some of this land may be put to other uses, much of this acreage could be left fallow. Finding ways to keep growing crops even when water is limited would help farmers, protect the environment, and support the economy. Winter cereals such as wheat, barley, and triticale could be a part of the solution. These crops are low maintenance and offer growers options for flexible management. They can be grown with little water input, relying mostly on precipitation from the winter rains, and can be harvested for a range of forage and grain products. In some parts of California, winter cereals are grown without any irrigation, but rainfall in the San Joaquin Valley is unpredictable and typically lower than the state average, making dryland agriculture more difficult.

Other agricultural water use news:

Aquafornia news KRCR (Redding, Calif.)

Live camera launches at Shasta Dam, offering 24/7 views

A magnitude 3.6 earthquake shook Shasta County early Friday morning, waking residents shortly before 4 a.m. The quake’s epicenter was not far from Shasta and Keswick Dams, prompting dam operators to conduct precautionary inspections. Michael Burke from the Bureau of Reclamation said … ”After the earthquake, we actually went out to Spring Creek, Whiskeytown, Lewiston and Shasta Dam and did a visual inspection, and there was no findings.” The Shasta Dam, which recently celebrated its 80th anniversary, remains structurally sound despite showing some wear. Experts said the dam’s concrete will not fully cure for another 20 years. In related news, the Bureau of Reclamation’s brand-new Shasta Dam Cam has gone live, offering a 24/7 view from atop the visitors center. The camera provides a continuous view of the three Shastas: Shasta Dam, the Shasta Reservoir and Mount Shasta.

Related article:

Aquafornia news South Yuba River Citizens League

News release: Salmon & Packer Creek aspen restoration project to launch in Tahoe National Forest

The South Yuba River Citizens League, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, is launching the Salmon & Packer Creek Aspen Restoration Project, a major forest restoration effort aimed at revitalizing quaking aspen habitat within the Tahoe National Forest. The State of California’s Wildlife Conservation Board granted SYRCL $1.7 million for this Restoration Project. Spanning a total of 292 acres north of Highway 49 and west of Gold Lakes Highway, this project includes degraded quaking aspen stands along Packer and Samon Creek in the Lost Sierra along Packer Lake Road. The primary goal is to restore and enhance 116 acres of aspen habitat, a critical but declining habitat in the Sierra Nevada. … One highlight of the project involves installing approximately 15 Beaver Dam Analogs (BDAs) in Salmon Creek Meadow. These low-tech structures, built from earthen materials and small conifer saplings, mimic natural beaver dams to slow water flow, expand wet meadow habitat, and promote fringe aspen growth. 

Aquafornia news Palo Alto Online (Calif.)

Political games on Palo Alto’s Utilities Advisory Commission

On June 4 our Utilities Advisory Commission (UAC) split 3-3 on a vote to update some water contracts. … The issue at hand was a pretty straight-forward one. The 26 wholesale customers of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), including Palo Alto, negotiated new terms for minimum purchase requirements, water allocation during drought, and a few other things. The 26 customers all use the same contracts, so it took a while (three years) to come to an agreement on changes. SFPUC helped the process along by making some concessions. For example, SFPUC agreed to collect no overuse fees from customers if aggregate usage was within limits. … Fixing this for these four customers will slightly increase water rates for the others. (2) Drought allocations similarly have some give and take, with Palo Alto needing to save somewhat more since much of the city’s water is for outdoor (irrigation) use and not for indoor (less flexible) use.

Aquafornia news The Signal (Santa Clarita, Calif.)

‘River of Lights’ experience shines a spotlight on water’s journey 

… The city of Santa Clarita, in collaboration with the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency, New York-based artist Sujin Lim, the Visual Terrain design firm and the Santa Clarita Symphony Orchestra, offered the free “River of Lights” experience Wednesday evening to celebrate the unveiling of a public art installation at Central Park in Saugus. According to Miranda, the presentation was a celebration of creativity, innovation and the connection the community shares with nature. … At the center of the plaza stood the newly unveiled art piece — a 14-foot-tall, 20-foot-wide set of steel clouds and cascading raindrop piping called “When Cloud Met a Cloud.” According to artist Lim, who specializes in creating site-specific installations and sculptures, the pipes symbolize both falling rain and the nearby pipeline in the Saugus hills that bring water to the area. … Santa Clarita Mayor Pro Tem Laurene Weste, in an interview before the “River of Lights” presentation, spoke about the importance of teaching children about water through art.  

Aquafornia news E&E News by Politico

Friday Top of the Scroll: Colorado River states see possible breakthrough as deadline looms

State negotiators grappling with how to share the drought-ravaged Colorado River say they could be close to breaking free from gridlock just as the Trump administration warns that missing a November deadline could force the federal government to take control. Members of the Upper Colorado River Commission — which represents Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming — announced Thursday that the states are weighing a new method of sharing the waterway based on the actual flow of the river, as opposed to projected flows and historical agreements. … The plan — at the heart of which is a formula for declaring how much water can be shared among the seven states each year, based on actual flows from the preceding three years — was proposed by the Lower Basin states of Arizona, California and Nevada. … On Thursday, he (Interior Department acting secretary for water and science Scott Cameron) set hard deadlines for the states to meet, warning that if a draft agreement has not taken shape by Nov. 11, then Reclamation will need to shift its focus to federal action.

Other Colorado River Basin news:

Aquafornia news Delta Stewardship Council

News release: Delta Stewardship Council adopts first-ever climate adaptation plan for California’s Delta

At its June 26, 2025, meeting, the Delta Stewardship Council adopted the first-ever comprehensive regional climate adaptation plan for California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. Part of the Council’s Delta Adapts climate initiative, the Adaptation Plan details strategies and actions to improve regional resilience to climate change across four focus areas: flood risk reduction, ecosystems, agriculture, and water supply reliability. It also identifies equity considerations of adaptation, costs, and governance challenges. The Council will work with its partners and other interested parties to implement the Adaptation Plan’s strategies, which will benefit current and future generations. … “As the climate continues to change, adaptation is no longer optional – it is essential,” says Executive Officer Jessica R. Pearson. “Investing in resilience today is how we safeguard our communities, water supply, ecosystems, and economies for tomorrow.”

Other climate impact news:

Aquafornia news E&E News by Politico

Trump terminates satellite data considered crucial to storm forecasting

A Department of Defense weather satellite program that collects vital information for hurricane forecasts will stop distributing data products to users Monday. The termination of data products from the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program could lead to dangerous declines in the quality of hurricane forecasts, meteorologists say. … NOAA, which provides operational support for the program, issued a termination notice Wednesday. The agency did not provide reasons for the decision. An official for the U.S. Space Force, which manages the program, confirmed that the satellites and their instruments are still fully functional. And the Defense Department will still have access to DMSP data. But for the program’s large network of users, the data products are going dark — and it’s still unclear why. … It’s a constellation of weather satellites collecting a variety of measurements used to track everything from thunderstorms to fog to snow and ice cover. Its data products are used by researchers around the world, including forecasters at the National Weather Service.

Other weather forecasting news:

Aquafornia news The New York Times

For the future of water conservation, look to … Los Angeles?

You’ve probably come across more stories about water woes in California than you can recall, so you may feel you’ve had enough for a while. I understand. … But there is one indisputable fact that keeps surfacing in the conversations I have about California water that feels like something of a beacon. The first time I heard it, it came as quite a surprise. Over the last half century or so, millions more people have moved to greater Los Angeles. … And during this same time, Angelenos have been consuming less water. … So, how did this happen? The answer speaks to a general truth about progress, which, in big, messy democracies, tends to occur not all at once but in incremental, often unsexy ways, mostly out of the news cycle. In this case the shift has involved some simple, practical, boring fixes, like better plumbing, alongside larger transformations in social norms, policies and politics.

Other water conservation news:

Aquafornia news The Mercury News (San Jose, Calif.)

Alameda Creek: Work underway to finish last puzzle piece to restore fish to waterway

Dams and barriers placed on Alameda Creek have prevented migratory fish from entering their native spawning grounds for more than 50 years, but an $80 million effort to raze the last significant obstacles and restore trout, salmon and other fish to their historical habitat are now underway. A PG&E gas pipeline is the last major barrier to restoring 20 miles of upstream spawning habitat for Chinook salmon and steelhead trout and will be relocated and buried by a coalition that includes the Alameda County Water District, PG&E and the San Francisco-based nonprofit California Trout. … The plan is to remove the concrete barrier and move the gas pipeline 100 feet downstream and bury it 20 feet underground to reopen the creek for migratory fish, according to California Trout senior project manager Claire Buchanan. Construction will need to move quickly in order to return the creek to its natural flow by Oct. 31, ahead of the fish migration season, Buchanan said.

Aquafornia news Water Online

U.S. water-related expenditures for data centers to exceed $4.1B through 2030

The role of water in the high-growth data center market is fast becoming a critical factor in site selection, design, and operations. By 2030, annual water-related capital and operational expenditures are forecasted to reach US$797.1M, representing a 31.4% increase from today. According to a new report from Bluefield Research, U.S. Water for Data Centers: Market Trends, Opportunities, and Forecasts, 2025–2030, this surge in activity is accelerating—driven by artificial intelligence (AI)-fueled growth, mounting local concerns over water availability, and the tech sector’s urgent push to safeguard operational resilience amid growing environmental scrutiny. Hyperscale data centers, which currently represent 51.4% of total market demand, are forecasted to withdraw 150.4 billion gallons of water between 2025 and 2030. This volume is equivalent to the annual water withdrawals of 4.6 million U.S. households.

Other data center water use news:

Aquafornia news E&E News by Politico

The oil and gas industry has a water problem. EPA wants to help

Oil and gas companies are running out of options for disposing of polluted water they generate every day, a problem for the Trump administration’s “energy dominance” agenda. EPA is offering the industry a hand by promoting reuse of that wastewater. The effort worries environmentalists, but it could draw crucial political allies in oil-producing states. The agency plans to update rules for what can be done with water that emerges from the ground during oil and gas extraction. The goal is to allow the chemical-laden, super-salty brine to be substantially cleaned and reused for power generation, water-guzzling data centers and irrigating rangeland. Reusing the water could address a major industry challenge and help ease crippling drought in parts of Texas and New Mexico, two of the nation’s most prolific oil-producing states. A growing body of research suggests that the water — which is three or more times saltier than seawater — can now be safely treated for certain applications, from industrial cooling to growing alfalfa and other non-food crops, proponents say.

Other energy and mining water news: